Page 5 of Heartless Legacy

I remain calm, doing nothing to show that what he’s insinuating turns my stomach. We stare at one another, waiting for the other to submit first. I’ve laid out the terms I want in exchange for agreeing to his offer, and I’m not changing my mind about it. I realize hecan’tagree to my demands because that means revealing that he knows where I am. There’s nothing I can do about that while I’m in here, but it’s still leverage.

He sighs. “This would have been so much easier if you’d said yes.”

Spoken like a man who’s finally realizing I’ll neverwillinglydo what he wants me to do. I spring to my feet as he gestures for the orderlies to come forward. They grab at my arms and I swing, fighting back. I knee one in the balls, then knee him in the face when he bends over to cup his sack. Three more orderlies rush in. They take turns hitting me while Malcolm stands back, straightening the cuffs on his suit.

“I don’t care how you get the drugs in her system. I want her on a continuous regiment so she can’t try to escape again, and intravenous feedings, so she maintains a healthy weight. Notify me when she has her period, andno onefucks her. I can’t risk her conceiving someone else’s child.”

I hear his words and my hold on my stomach slips. I spew bile as the orderlies continue to slam their fists into me. A month. I just finished my period. I’ve got a month. A monthto get myself out of here. That’s the last thought I have before things turn black.

Pax

My grandfather sits across the table from me at Thea’s favorite bistro. His request to meet here for brunch caught me off guard, but I rushed to agree, leaping at any excuse to get away from my parent’s house.

“I’ve gone over your scores for the academic year, Pax. I’m impressed with the final tally. You and your friends competed well.”

“Thank you, grandfather.”

“You boys work hard, and it shows. There are roughly two hundred points between you and the first-place team of your current prospect year.”

Two hundred points? That’s sounds like a lot, but if he’s happy with the spread, then I am, too. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished in such a short amount of time. I let a little of that show on my face.

“The three of you have always been our strongest team. My fellow council members have proposed separating the three of you to see if we can replicate your success with individual members.”

My heart thuds in my chest. Not today.Please, not today. We have too much to work out. The news of my engagementobliterated Holden and Finn’s trust in me, and there’s a Thea sized crack in our foundation. If the council forces us to work with other groups, there will be no way to work on repairing the damage my father’s done, because we’ll be too busy fighting each other for points. Wehaveto stay a team. It’s the only way I can guarantee we ascend the ranks together, and prove that I’m still loyal to them.

My grandfather says, “I, of course, have disagreed with that vote every time.”

“Thank you, grandfather.”

He gives me a look that makes my nuts shrivel up. “I didn’t do it for you, boy. I did it because your Trium is powerful. Efficient. You boys get results. It’s wiser to leave you together, for now.”

He means he still thinks it’s in the best interest of all our families to keep us together. Separating The Trium gives other families a chance to rise to power and unseat us. There’s no way he’s risking that. I let out a sigh of relief. His desire to hold on to power actually works in my favor.

“Now, as for the girl… I understand how difficult the change must be for young Finn.”

For a minute I think he’s talking about Thea, and has some information about her. Then he mentions Finn, bringing me right back to my fucked up reality. “Finn’s dealing with it.” Hell, he’s elated. I’m the one having troubleadjusting.

“Your contract coming up for review surprised us, but we saw no reason to reject the petition.”

I can give him hundreds of reasons. Thousands, even. Those reasons still wouldn’t matter. Connections are key and my father intends to squeeze Liam Charles for everything he’s worth. My grandfather eyes me over his newspaper. “Her father is asking us to review her status with The League.”

“To end the recruitment process?”

“Mmm. He feels her time would be better served preparing to support you as your wife. What do you think of that?”

What I think is that I can’t think of anything worse than having Eloise devoting her time to me. “Eloise’s father knew what she was signing up for when she accepted The League’s invitation. There is no backing out. Only stagnating. If she wants to stay a first year prospect, that’s up to her.” I lean back in my seat. “Though, I’d request for a few more concessions and addendums to benefit me, if I’m to marry someone who is comfortable settling.”

He nods, his eyes gleaming. “Exactly my thoughts, my boy. Which is precisely what I told your father.”

“You did?”

“Absolutely.” He says with a decisive nod. “Speaking of addendums. Your father added one, giving himself proxy and decision-making authority of all your inherited assets.” He arches a brow. “Do you not feel you’re ready to take on responsibility for yourself?”

My father did what? I don’t know shit about that, but it makes sense. It’s another way to control me. “I’m quite ready, grandfather.”

“Excellent. I figured as much. That’s why the council rejected the draft contract he turned in, and instructed both parties to start again within the proper guidelines, to include the preliminary screening process for potential matches. We love initiative, but the rules are in place to prevent chaos and disorder, which will happen if we just ram a marriage contract through.” He sips his drink, then says, “Especially given Miss Charles’s long-standing match to young Finley.”

That part falls on me. Or it would if I’d been the one to start this clusterfuck. I play my part. “I didn’t realize that would be a problem.”

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